Chrysanthemum plant named Meteor

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Meteor having semi-incurved capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 130 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown as a pinched disbud pot mum; semi-spreading branching pattern; and dual value as both pinched and standard disbud pot mums.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Meteor.

Meteor is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched, disbud pot mum programs having decorative capitulum type, yellow ray floret color, nine week flowering response, and having the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were not present or required improvement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Meteor was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1977. The female parent was Dark Yellow Paragon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,916, a spontaneous mutation from Yellow Paragon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,405, which in turn mutated from Paragon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,368, which was originated by the present inventor.

The male parent of Meteor was Wildfire, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,236, which was originated from a cross between Mandalay (unpatented and commercially available) and an unnamed bronze decorative seedling.

Meteor was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on Dec. 29, 1978 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Meteor was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in May 1979 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated July 1980 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Meteor are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Meteor has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Meteor, which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Semi-incurved capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Yellow ray floret color;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 130 mm. at maturity;

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Tall plant height, requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to 40 cm.;

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern; and

(8) Dual value as both pinched and standard disbud pot mums.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical foliage and inflorescence characteristics of Meteor. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of a plant of Meteor grown as a pinched, disbud pot mum, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Meteor. Sheet 3 shows the leaves of Meteor in three stages of development (mature, intermediate, immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to Meteor are Mountain Peak, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,458, and Golden Bowl, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,765. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Meteor to those same characteristics of Mountain Peak and Golden Bowl.

Meteor, when compared to Mountain Peak, has deeper yellow color, more incurved capitulum form, a more spreading branching pattern, and one week earlier flowering response.

Meteor, when compared to Golden Bowl, has lighter yellow color, less incurved capitulum form, a less spreading branching pattern, and one week earlier flowering response.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined between 10:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. on Nov. 20, 1982 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Meteor.

Commercial: Disbud and standard decorative pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Semi-incurved.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--100 To 130 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Yellow.

Color (abaxial).--7A-C Immature to 6A-C mature.

Color (adaxial).--9A-C Immature to 10A-B mature.

Shape.--Oblong with rounded tip.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--3A-C.

Color (immature).--154B-C.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance:

Height.--Tall; 30 to 40 cm. given 2 long day weeks before pinch and lights out, and 1-2 applications 2500 ppm B-9 after lights out.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--147A,B.

Color (adaxial).--148A.

Shape.--Shallow lobing. Moderately serrated.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                          COMPARISON OF METEOR AND MOUNTAIN PEAK                                        AND GOLDEN BOWL                                                                ______________________________________                                                              CAPITULUM     BRANCH-                                              RAY FLORET  FORM AND      ING                                         CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE          PATTERN                                     ______________________________________                                         METEOR   YELLOW      SEMI-INCURVED SEMI-                                                TINGE OF    DECORATIVE    SPREAD-                                              BRONZE                    ING                                         MOUNTAIN LIGHT       FLAT          SEMI-                                       PEAK     YELLOW      DECORATIVE    UPRIGHT                                     #3,458                                                                         GOLDEN   GOLDEN      INCURVED      SPREAD-                                     BOWL     YELLOW      DECORATIVE    ING                                         #4,765   TINGED                                                                         BRONZE                                                                ______________________________________                                                  DIAMETER                                                                       ACROSS                  FLOWERING                                              FACE OF      PLANT      RESPONSE                                      CULTIVAR CAPITULUM    HEIGHT     PERIOD                                        ______________________________________                                         METEOR   100 to 130 mm.                                                                              TALL        9 WEEKS                                                            30 to                                                                          40 cm.                                                   MOUNTAIN 100 to 130 mm.                                                                              MEDIUM     10 WEEKS                                      PEAK                  30 to                                                    #3,458                35 cm.                                                   GOLDEN   125 to 150 mm.                                                                              SHORT      10 WEEKS                                      BOWL                  25 to                                                    #4,765                30 cm.                                                   ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                            PINCHED DISBUD POT MUMS                                                        IN SALINAS, CALFORNIA                                                          ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Meteor, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of semi-incurved capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 130 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week flowering response; tall plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern; and dual value as both pinched and standard disbud pot mums. 